The New York Mets are 8-12 in their last 20 games and broke their seven-game losing streak on Tuesday night with a 13-5 win against the Atlanta Braves.
To shake things up in the rotation, manager Carlos Mendoza announced Tuesday that starter Frankie Montas would transition to the bullpen. Right-hander Paul Blackburn is on a minor league rehab assignment and needs another appearance before his return, so the Mets quickly pivoted to another option waiting in the wings.
On Wednesday, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported the National League East club will promote top pitching prospect Nolan McLean to make his Major League Baseball debut on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners at Citi Field.
Mets’ Top Pitching Prospect to Make Debut
McLean, the Mets’ top-ranked pitching prospect and No. 3 overall prospect on MLB Pipeline, will face a challenge in his first game in the Major Leagues.
The Mariners’ offense improved significantly from last season, with the trade deadline additions of first baseman Josh Naylor and slugger Eugenio Suarez. Not to mention, catcher Cal Raleigh is enjoying a historic MVP-like season.
“There’s a reason why McLean is considered to be one of the Mets’ top prospects. After a scorching start in Double-A, where the right-hander went 3-1 with a 1.37 ERA in five starts, New York promoted him to Triple-A,” Clutch Points’ Jordan Llanes wrote Wednesday.
“With Binghampton, McLean has started 13 games. His 5-4 record is solid, but the ERA of 2.78 and ten strikeouts per nine innings mark show a pitcher that looks ready for what will await him Saturday at Citi Field. Replacing Montas should be a task he’s well prepared for.”
According to SNY’s Joe DeMayo, McLean’s pitch arsenal includes a four-seam fastball, sinker, sweeper, cutter, and curveball. DeMayo reports that McLean’s sinker and fastball “average around 95 mph and will touch 97.”
Why Nolan McLean Received the Call
Even without Montas’ relegation, McLean appeared ready to face Major League hitters. In his previous 10 games at Triple-A Syracuse, the 24-year-old posted a 2.44 ERA and recorded six or more strikeouts in eight of those outings. Additionally, he struck out 10 batters in back-to-back starts on July 3 and July 9.
For Montas, the complete transition to the bullpen is a first in his 10-year career, dating back to his debut in 2015 with the Chicago White Sox. The two-year, $34 million contract he signed with New York in December is yet to pan out for either party, as he owns a 6.38 ERA and 1.555 WHIP in eight appearances (seven starts).
During this year’s spring training, Montas suffered a strained right lat, and his longest outing of the season was 5.2 innings on July 22 against the Los Angeles Angels.
“We just need to see consistency — and he’ll be the first one that tells you,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters about Montas Tuesday, per ESPN. “It’s been a battle for him, health-wise. And then after he got back, we saw flashes for a couple of outings, but then it’s been a battle. And he understands where we’re at in the season, and that’s why we made the decision.”
Mendoza and the Mets hope McLean can help turn the club in the right direction as the postseason nears.
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